Presentation

LPN has a long experience in the growth of III-V semiconductors on GaAs and InP substrates by metal-organometallic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Part of our expertise concerns the fabrication of microcavities based on distributed Bragg mirrors and containing various active materials, such as quantum wells and quantum dots (QDs) with optical transitions tuned in the near and mid infrared ranges. Various functionalities may be sought for, such as high quality factor cavities for quantum optics, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) operating under optical or electrical pumping, saturable absorber mirrors for non-linear optical functions, or cavities and filters for THz acoustics phonons. Other complex planar structures are realized for cascade emission in the mid infrared and Bloch oscillators in the THz domain. Finally, for plasmonics, novel epitaxial structures are designed, implemented and combined with metallic patterns at the sample surface.

The expertise of ELPHYSE is not limited to epitaxy. We also analyze the samples by transmission electron microscopy, X ray diffraction and infrared and photoluminescence spectroscopies. Some of us are also actively involved in technological developments for device fabrication. The structures and devices are dedicated to studies (GOSS, PEQ and PHODEVgroups of LPN) or external collaborations.

Reference contract : ANR PNANO 2006
Coordinator, Partner(s) : R. Colombelli (IEF
), M. Carras (TRT
), C. Sirtori (MPQ
)C2N leader(s): Isabelle SagnesMain goals : This research proposal aims at (i) developing low-loss surface-plasmon-based waveguides for mid-infrared semiconductor lasers (5 µm < l < 16 µm, InGaAs/AlInAs and InAs/AlSb material systems) and corresponding high performance devices, (ii) adding novel functionalities to quantum cascade lasers (surface sensing, single-mode emission, tunability …) by the sole patterning of the device metal contacts, without the need for complicated etch-and-regrowth procedures, and (iii) solving the problem of the lack of convenient laser waveguides for QC lasers in the InAs/AlSb material system. The implementation of new spectral functionalities on Quantum Cascade mid-infrared lasers – such as single mode emission, wavelength tunability…- is of great importance for spectroscopic applications. It has traditionally borrowed concepts and techniques from the telecoms, but these technologies are often challenging from a technical point of view. We propose a radical simplification. The simpler alternative we propose consists in the implementation of efficient metallic (surface-plasmon) waveguides at mid-infrared wavelengths. This approach would allow one to borrow ideas and technologies from the extensive know-how already existing and well developed for the THz and microwave ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. Partners : Project carried by Raffaele Colombelli from IEF, Paris 7, LPN, Alcatel-Thales 3-5 Lab, IES. (2007-2010)

Reference contract : ANR PNANO 2006
Coordinator, Partner(s) : R. Colombelli (IEF
), M. Carras (TRT
), C. Sirtori (MPQ
)C2N leader(s): Isabelle SagnesMain goals : This research proposal aims at (i) developing low-loss surface-plasmon-based waveguides for mid-infrared semiconductor lasers (5 µm < l < 16 µm, InGaAs/AlInAs and InAs/AlSb material systems) and corresponding high performance devices, (ii) adding novel functionalities to quantum cascade lasers (surface sensing, single-mode emission, tunability …) by the sole patterning of the device metal contacts, without the need for complicated etch-and-regrowth procedures, and (iii) solving the problem of the lack of convenient laser waveguides for QC lasers in the InAs/AlSb material system. The implementation of new spectral functionalities on Quantum Cascade mid-infrared lasers – such as single mode emission, wavelength tunability…- is of great importance for spectroscopic applications. It has traditionally borrowed concepts and techniques from the telecoms, but these technologies are often challenging from a technical point of view. We propose a radical simplification. The simpler alternative we propose consists in the implementation of efficient metallic (surface-plasmon) waveguides at mid-infrared wavelengths. This approach would allow one to borrow ideas and technologies from the extensive know-how already existing and well developed for the THz and microwave ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. Partners : Project carried by Raffaele Colombelli from IEF, Paris 7, LPN, Alcatel-Thales 3-5 Lab, IES. (2007-2010)

Reference contract : ANR Blanc
Coordinator, Partner(s) : S. Sauvage (IEF
),C2N leader(s): Aristide LemaîtreMain goals : In this basic research SONORE project we propose to investigate the ultrasmall absorption of a single semiconductor quantum dot with /no photon detection/. We will apply and investigate an extremely sensitive and high spatial resolution absorption imagery based on the local detection of /acoustic phonons /and/ thermal deformation/. The ultrasmall absorption will be both spectrally and spatially resolved in a sub-wavelength regime (~l/150), from the near to the midinfrared spectral range from room temperature to low temperature. The absorption imagery and localized spectroscopy will use an atomic force microscope (AFM) coupled to a pulsed laser excitation. The acoustical and thermal contribution of a single quantum dot to the instrument response will be explored theoretically and experimentally, from room temperature to low temperature. (2009-2012)